Wellington University further strengthens its offshore offerings

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s newest international partnership will give students in central Viet Nam access to some of the University’s world-class scholars.

The partnership, one of several recently established by Wellington with international universities, will allow postgraduate students at University of Foreign Language Studies – The University of Da Nang to study courses in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

The students will initially study the Wellington courses online, with face-to-face support and pastoral care provided by staff at University of Foreign Language Studies – The University of Da Nang. Later in their programme of study, the students will have the option of completing courses on campus in Wellington once borders reopen.

Other partnerships recently confirmed include one with the Communications University of Zhejiang (CUZ) in China through which Chinese students will be taught online by staff from Wellington’s University as part of an undergraduate degree joint programme majoring in Intercultural Communication.

A second involves a programme partnership with Vidyalankar School of Information and Technology (VSIT) in India’s largest city, Mumbai, which will see the two institutions offer a collaborative undergraduate programme in Communication Studies.

All three partnerships in China, India and Viet Nam involve staff from the Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, which is now ranked first in Aotearoa New Zealand and 72nd equal in the world for Arts and Humanities by QS World University Rankings.

Courses for students at University of Foreign Language Studies – The University of Da Nang will be taught by staff from Wellington’s Te Kura Tātari Reo—School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies. John Macalister, Professor in Applied Linguistics, says the School has a track record of successfully delivering courses in other parts of Viet Nam but this is the first partnership with a university in central Viet Nam.

“We have several alumni who completed their postgraduate study here in Wellington now working at University of Foreign Language Studies – The University of Da Nang so this partnership further strengthens links we have established,” says Professor Macalister

“It’s an excellent model as it means Vietnamese students who may have young families or other commitments are able to study in their home country while benefiting from the expertise of our highly regarded staff.”

The partnerships are part of Wellington University’s commitment to working with universities across the world to deliver its high-quality education more widely alongside trusted international partners who can augment the online learning with face-to-face teaching and student pastoral care. The three new partnerships build on the large number of existing offshore partnerships that the University has formed over many years.

“In addition,” says Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Blair McRae, “building deeper and more direct connections with overseas institutions increases the University’s visibility and viability, including with international research funders, international academics and industry.”

In another initiative to strengthen its international education offering, Wellington University will also shortly be opening its first offshore Student Learning Centre at Capital Normal University (CNU) in Beijing.

The Centre will cater for up to 80 students who are currently enrolled with Wellington University, giving those who have remained in China due to COVID-19 border restrictions the option of joining fellow Wellington students on campus at one of China’s top universities, located in central Beijing.

The students will continue with their online classes delivered by Wellington faculties but will be able to access additional support from CNU learning advisers, take part in some events and academic activites on the CNU campus, stay in on-campus accommodation and use facilities such as the university library and sports facilities.

Rebecca Needham, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (International Engagement), says the Student Learning Centre will supplement the support already provided by the University to its students studying offshore.

“All our students studying offshore have access to comprehensive academic support and many of our student services. The new Centre provides an additional option for students in China who want more interaction with their peers or would like to live in a university campus environment.”

The Student Learning Centre will open in early August, while CUZ students will start their studies in Intercultural Communication in Hangzhou in September and the first cohort of postgraduate studients enrolled in TESOL courses at University of Foreign Language Studies – The University of Da Nang will begin their studies in November.